Big dollars not the be all and end all for FIFOs

A study has revealed high salaries are not the only factor attracting people to fly-in fly-out work in the mining industry.

A team at Edith Cowan University has been investigating what elements contribute to staff turnover in the iron ore industry, to try to help reduce the rate.

Professor Alan Brown says the initial findings show while big pay packets are attractive, employees were more concerned about other elements of the job.

"Factors that rate higher than money would be opportunities for learning, training and development within the company, opportunities for promotion within the company and the industry," he said.

"And, the third factor would be the actual workplace climate, the colleagues they work with."

Turnover at individual companies in the mining industry is estimated to be anywhere between 15 to 25 per cent.

Professor Brown says the study looked at why turnover rates could be so high.

"One of the key surprises was the fact employees rated very strongly a desire to have a future career in the mining industry," he said.

"I guess this is somewhat at odds with the general perception of FIFO workers that they are in for a short period of time to make some quick money.

"What we did anticipate given the common talk about FIFO workers was they were in it for a short period of time, particularly with a goal in mind, that they would enter this industry with perhaps a short term financial goal, and once that was achieved they would exit the industry."

He says that was not apparent in the study.

"The expectations of FIFO workers is not all that different from other workers; the opportunity for training and development is clearly something most employees are looking for these days, particularly younger generation employees," he said.

Professor Brown says there are a number of lessons for mining companies.

"Look at retaining workers by offering them developmental opportunities, look at the quality of your managers and leaders, [and] the team work at the site is a particularly important factor to consider as well," he said.

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